Huntington Prep is one of the nation's elite high school basketball programs. We all know that. However, it's the state of West Virginia who will have to come to it's rescue.
The ESPN RISE National Invitational would love to have the power-house Express take part in the tournament. However, that is up to WVSSAC at this moment, and that moment is fleeting.
Huntington ranks in the top 10 nationally in about every imaginable poll for high school basketball, except ESPN's Fab 50. That poll, due to it's name association with the cable sports giant and resulting 'national tournament', is the benchmark to most people who follow the exploits of these prep squads and saliva inducing recruits that they carry.
Coach Rob Fullford and his staff are petitioning the WVSSAC to simply say, 'Yes, if HP wants to play teams from within our state, they can do at their choosing'. Without that vote of confidence from the board, it is likely that Prep will continue to get the snub from the tournament and it's organizers.
Huntington Prep, however, is not looking to have the state qualify for state championships. They just want enough backing from the state to allow them the acknowledgement and support as recognized part of their state athletics.
Currently, the reasons behind the WVSSAC not signing off on The Express is out of fear of them running through West Virginia high schools, dominating the state basketball scene, and stealing players from their school districts to come play for them. Fullford has went on record to say that the program doesn't want to compete for state championships, nor would it take any player into it's program from within the state.
If such a seal of approval is not issued from the state, not only would Huntington Prep lose out on more exposure via ESPN televised exposure, but also West Virginia would lose out on the obvious benefits of having such a program calling it's mountainous terrain home gaining such exposure.
Time is running out for both sides, the organizers of the RISE tourney are holding a spot for Huntington at the moment, but that could disappear within days if the WVSSAC doesn't act now. Preferably yesterday.
No comments:
Post a Comment